Hip Hop — All Formats

Traffic

Tough mid 90s Queensbridge street hop from Big Noyd – much of which is produced Havoc of Mobb Deep – plus Stretch Armstrong and Charlemagne. Prodigy rhymes on the record, too, but the record as a whole really does belong to Big Noyd's skillful rhymes and no-flinch ing street storytelling. Includes "Recognize & Realize" (pts. 1 & 2), "All Pro", "Infamous Mobb", "It's On You" and "Usual Suspect", "Episodes Of A Hustla" and more. This 2011 edition from Traffic puts this one back in print for the first time in 15 years. CD

Biz's second LP from 1989 – what can we tell you about the Biz that you don't already know? As far as we're concerned there are a lot of MCs that could still learn a lesson or two from the Biz, and producers too! Good time mid school hip hop, with nice sample based production and a great sense of humor, that makes us nostalgic for the late 80s early 90s glory days. 13 tracks in all, with the cuts "Spring Again", "Just A Friend", "A Thing Named Kim", "The Dragon", "Things Get A Little Easier", "I Hear Music", "Biz In Harmony", "Check It Out" and more. This 2012 special edition includes 5 bonus 12" versions: "Just A Friend (12" Version)", "Just A Friend (Instrumental)", "Spring Again (Club Mix)", "Spring Again (12" Remix)" and "Spring Again (Dub)". CD

A selection of late 80s South Bronx Teachings – classic Boogie Down Productions circa Criminal Minded! South Bronx Teachings focuses soundly on the class of '87 – so you get fistful of the Criminal Minded cuts and a few other blasts from KRS-One & Scott La Rock, nicely paced over 13 tracks. Includes "Poetry", "South Bronx", "9MM Goes Blang", "Word From Our Sponsor", "Elementary", "Advance", "D-Nice Rocks The House", "The Bridge Is Over", "Criminal Minded", and "P Is Free (rmx)". CD

The incredible follow-up to I Wish My Brother George Was Here – and a record that was initally underappreciated, mostly because it was such a radical departure from the George – but it's one that we loved from day one and we're thrilled is getting some love all these years later! Whereas I Wish My Brother George Was Here was sort of the loopy, semi-comical cousin to the tonally heavier G-Funk sound, No Need For Alarm has a tighter, somewhat little harder hitting sound – more akin to the jazzy Hiero beats you've come to know and love! There are days when we feel like this is our favorite Del LP. Includes "Catch A Bad One", "Wack MCs", "No Need For Alarm", "Boo Boo Heads", "Worldwide", "No More Worries", "Wrong Place", "In & Out" and "Miles To Go". CD

Del Tha Funkee Homosapien, Kid Koala, and Dan The Automator pool their skills for this dawn of the 2000s sci-fi hip hop classic – the masterful Deltron 3030! The guest list is almost too long to get into, but Money Mark, Prince Paul, PB Wolf and Mr. Lif are all here, along with many others. One of the benchmark albums in the leftfield underground hip hop canon – and a hugely influential set that burst the doors wide open for the more creative spirits in the hip hop and even experimental pop. Tracks include "State Of The Nation", "3030", "The Fantabulous Rap Extravaganza", "Things You Can Do", "Positive Contact", "St Catherine St.", "Virus", "Mastermind", "National Movie Review", "Time Keeps On Slipping", "Turbulence (remix)", "Battlesong", "Memory Loss" and more. This reissue edition adds 3 bonus tracks: "Positive Contact" (Charlie Clouser remix), "Terbulence" (Mark Bell rmx) and "Positive Contact" (Mario C rmx). CD

The amazing debut of those most hyperactive of the Native Tongues, the short-lived, ultra fresh Leaders Of The New School! Busta & Co. splintered apart after just two albums, but this will always be a shiny trophy in the mantle with the all time freshest East Coast hip hop. It sounds great to this day, particularly those Eric "Vietnam" Sadler cuts. Tracks include "Case Of The P.T.A.", "Too Much On My Mind", "What's The Pinocchio Theory?", "Sobb Story", "Sound Of The Zeekers @#^**?!", "Feminine Fatt", "Transformers", "Show Me A Hero", "Trains, Planes & Automobiles", "Teachers, Don't Teach Us Nonsense!", "My Ding-A-Ling", and "Where Do We Go From Here?". CD

The amazing debut of those most hyperactive of the Native Tongues, the short-lived, ultra fresh Leaders Of The New School! Busta & Co. splintered apart after just two albums, but this will always be a shiny trophy in the mantle with the all time freshest East Coast hip hop. It sounds great to this day, particularly those Eric "Vietnam" Sadler cuts. Tracks include "Case Of The P.T.A.", "Too Much On My Mind", "What's The Pinocchio Theory?", "Sobb Story", "Sound Of The Zeekers @#^**?!", "Feminine Fatt", "Transformers", "Show Me A Hero", "Trains, Planes & Automobiles", "Teachers, Don't Teach Us Nonsense!", "My Ding-A-Ling", and "Where Do We Go From Here?". LP, Vinyl record album

The Juice Crew at it's best with Marley Marl twisting the knobs – the lCold Chillin classic from MC Shan! Born To Be Wild is the middle effort in a trio of great, and at this point underappreciated album MC Shan cut for Cold Chillin, leaving a pretty solid legacy if strong mid 80s rap with dynamite Marley Marl production! The CD was out of print for almost 20 years before this remastered reissue, with titles including "We Used To Do It Out In The Park", "Juice Crew Law", "I Pioneered This", "She's Gone", "Words Of A Freestyle", "Never Rock A Party" and more – plus bonus original 12" vocal mixes of "I Pioneered This", "Juice Crew Law" and "They Used To Do It In The Park", the original 12" dub of "Juice Crew Law" and the original 12" acapella of "I Pioneered This". CD

Benchmark early 80s NYC rap from Whodini! Everyone knows the name Whodini and we have some fun old school rap video show memories, but the group doesn't really get its props in the way others of their generation enjoy. It's never too late! This is fresh album worth copping. Includes "The Haunted House Of Rock" – the extended version, the vocoder version and "Haunted" mix – plus "Magic's Wand" (plus extended mix) "Nasty Lady", "Underground", "Rap Machine" and "It's All In Mr Magic's Wand". A classic! CD

The classic first (and hardest to find) Just-Ice LP – finally back in print. The album was officially produced by Mantronik, although we always thought that Just-Ice also had a hand in the production, since the sound is harder and slower than the other early Mantronik productions. The record features beatboxing by the "Human DMX" and the classics "Back To The Old School", "Gangster of Hip Hop", "Latoya", and "Put That Record Back On." The picture cover is a dope notebook style grafitti drawing of Just-Ice, DMX, Latoya and Mantronik – who's carrying a Roland 909! CD

One of the most important albums in the history of hip hop – the first full LP from KRS One, and a landmark batch of tracks recorded with the late Scott La Rock! The track list alone is a full chapter in the hip hop book of legends – with tunes like "Poetry", "Elementary", "South Bronx", "Super-Hoe", "Bridge is Over", and the "P is Free" remix. Other tracks include "Criminal Minded", "Dope Beat", and "9mm Goes Bang". Plus, this 3CD version is amazing – one CD of the original album, another CD of bonus versions, exclusives, unreleased tracks, and radio spots – and a full third CD of instrumental versions! Also comes with a 44 page book with liner notes by Brian Coleman and KRS-One, alternate photos, lyrics, and a full-sized poster. CD

One of the most important albums in the history of hip hop – the first full LP from KRS One and Boogie Down Productions, and a landmark batch of tracks recorded with the late Scott La Rock! The track list alone is a full chapter in the hip hop book of legends – with tunes like "Poetry", "Elementary", "South Bronx", "Super-Hoe", "Bridge is Over", and the "P is Free" remix. Other tracks include "Criminal Minded", "Dope Beat", and "9MM Goes Bang". This 2011 2LP remastered edition includes the bonus track "P Is Free (Original 12" Version)", liner notes by Brian Coleman and KRS One and a 24" X 36" poster. LP, Vinyl record album

(Remastered version on 2LPs with a 24" x 36" poster and liner notes by Brian Coleman with KRS-One.)

Tough, righteous rap from King Sun – 1989's XL – a set that still looms large after all these years! King Sun dropped knowledge from a Five Percenter influence with a flow that's as smooth, solid and authoritive as any Bronx rapper of the day – and the production by Sun Born sounds great to this this day. This one was out of print for far too long! Includes "Hey Love", which uses the "Moments In Love" sample by Art Of Noise, and is standout produced by Cut Master DC. Also includes "Lethal Weapon", 'Ft Tape", "It's A Heat Up" and "Time To Go". This long-awaited Traffic remastered edition includes the earlier single cuts "Mythological Rapper" and "Christmas In The City" – both on CD for the first time. CD

Pre-MF Doom/Metal Fingers, et al, classic material from then-Zev Love X and DJ Sub Roc! The Mr Hood LP's original release year of '91 in retrospect seems like the last chance eccentric crews had to drop a leftfield classic before everybody had to be hardcore – and this certainly is a classic! Humor, knowledge and pure niceness on par with the first De La album, though it never broke out nearly as huge. KMD also offered a wild, whole other side of the man who'd become Metal Face, before the tragic loss of Sub Roc. Along with the subsequently strident and once lost Black Bastards LP, this is one of the highwater marks in hip hop. Essential listening! Features "Peachfuzz", "Nitty Gritty" with Brand Nubian, "Humrush", "Figure Of Speech", "Trial 'N Error", "Soulflexin", "Gasface Refill" and the hilarious "Mr Hood At Piocalles Jewelry/Crackpot". CD

We know we spend a lot of space on these pages propping up early 90s hip hop, but you have to admit it was the salad days of the east coast. Finesse's second LP's no exception, with tight lyrics and beats – keeping it real before it became a cliche – a DITC classic that we never grow tired of, and has been far to hard to get a hold of on vinyl for year! Timeless production that lives up to the title by Showbiz, Diamond D and Finesse. Tracks include "Party Over Here", "Yes You May", "Return Of The Funky Man", "Fat For The 90s", "Stop Sweating The Next Man", "That's How Smooth I Am", "Praise The Lord", "I Like My Girls With A Boom", "Hey Look At Shorty", "Isn't He Something" and "Funky On The Fast Tip". CD

The first EP by Pete Rock & CL Smooth – and one of the greatest debut EPs in hip hop history – fleshed out here with bonus mixes and instrumentals! The original EP material is as stunning as ever, really showing the Pete & CL were in near peak form right outta gate – setting up the signature Pete Rock's signature jazz and soul sample mastery, perfectly suited to CL's brilliant, though laidback MC skills. An essential little set, and the perfect set up for the epic first LP to come! EP tracks include "Good Life" (plus the Group Home remix), "Mecca & The Soul Brother", "Go With The flow", "The Creator" and "All Souled Out". This nice 2014 version on Traffic includes the bonus versions "The Creator (Slide To Slide Mix)", "The Creator (Surfboard Mix)" and instrumental version, plus "Mecca & The Soul Brother (Wig Out Mix)" and instrumental. CD

The incredible follow-up to I Wish My Brother George Was Here – and a record that was initally underappreciated, mostly because it was such a radical departure from the George – but it's one that we loved from day one and we're thrilled is getting some love all these years later! Whereas I Wish My Brother George Was Here was sort of the loopy, semi-comical cousin to the tonally heavier G-Funk sound, No Need For Alarm has a tighter, somewhat little harder hitting sound – more akin to the jazzy Hiero beats you've come to know and love! There are days when we feel like this is our favorite Del LP. Includes "Catch A Bad One", "Wack MCs", "No Need For Alarm", "Boo Boo Heads", "Worldwide", "No More Worries", "Wrong Place", "In & Out" and "Miles To Go". LP, Vinyl record album

Finally back on wax, and pressed up on double vinyl to boot! Pre-MF Doom/Metal Fingers, et al, classic from then-Zev Love X and DJ Sub Roc. The last chance before everybody had to be hardcore. Humor, knowledge and pure niceness, on par with the first De La album, though it never broke as huge. A whole other side of the man who'd become Metal Face, before the tragic loss of Sub Roc and subsequently strident and once lost but now widely available LP Black Bastards, this was one of the highwater marks in hip hop. Essential listening. Features "Peachfuzz", "Nitty Gritty" with Brand Nubian, "Humrush", "Figure Of Speech", "Trial 'N Error", "Soulflexin", "Gasface Refill" and the hilarious "Mr Hood At Piocalles Jewelry/Crackpot". LP, Vinyl record album

Benchmark early 80s NYC rap from Whodini! Everyone knows the name Whodini and we have some fun old school rap video show memories, but the group doesn't really get its props in the way others of their generation enjoy. It's never too late! This is fresh album worth copping. Includes "The Haunted House Of Rock" – the extended version, the vocoder version and "Haunted" mix – plus "Magic's Wand" (plus extended mix) "Nasty Lady", "Underground", "Rap Machine" and "It's All In Mr Magic's Wand". A classic! CD